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Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. Has International Found a Partner in Multicultural?. International Work, 1990-2003. 1990-97, international as professional development Faculty seminar in Dominican Republic Group study tour in New Zealand Group to Australia
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Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Has International Found a Partner in Multicultural?
International Work, 1990-2003 • 1990-97, international as professional development • Faculty seminar in Dominican Republic • Group study tour in New Zealand • Group to Australia • Individual experiences--NELD, Wis. Rural Leadership
Recent International Work • Individual agent/specialist initiatives • Network of interest exists • Partnerships with USAID, VOCA, Farmer to Farmer, etc. • Some University time, no funding
Shift in Perspective • Support for internationalizing Extension • Leadership assigned, John Preissing • Training, partnerships, scholarly work • Interface with multicultural
Current Multicultural Efforts • Plan 2008, action plan for multicultural • Coop. Ext. has diversity goals • Civil rights education and compliance is cornerstone • Outreach to people of color expected • Many multicultural programs • Diversity Think Tank • Task Forces—Nat. Amer., Hmong • Hispanic/Latino Workgroup gathering resources • Emphasis on outcomes and impacts
International as Part of Multicultural? • Funding is major challenge, partnerships needed • Accountability expected • Good educators, independent, politically savvy • Demonstrate benefits to learners at home • Demonstrate scholarly work • Carryover to competency in multicultural work at home • Rewards in peer review, tenure system, performance evaluations • Help colleagues learn to do this work
Example: Puentes (Bridges) • Babcock Institute, Alma Public School System, Buffalo Co. Extension • Coordinator: Carl Duley, Dairy Agent • Combines international, multicultural
Puentes Goals • Integrate Latino immigrants into communities • Teach cultural understandings • Teach languages • Improve employer/employee relationships
Activities • Farmers—Spanish class • Mexican employees—ESL • Farmers—Spanish immersion and education about Mexico • Farmers—visit families of employees • Community discussions • Comprehensive evaluation
International= Outcomes + Impacts • Program repeated in 2002 • Highly successful for farmers/employers • Employees learning Spanish • Employee satisfaction high • Community gaining understanding of immigrants
Helping Communities Respond • Arlen Albrecht, CNRED agent, Taylor County • Extensive international experience • Environmental Education • Business Counseling • Economic and Community Development • Local Government Education
Albrecht’s International Dimension • Peace Corps, Wisconsin Nicaragua Partners, Farmer to Farmer • Bilingual • Deep understanding of Latin cultures
“Focus on Latinos” • Taylor County responds to Latin immigrants • Major businesses, downtown retail, job service, public schools, churches, county health department • Support for immigrants, employers and county residents.
Extension Agent Role • Extension facilitation skills • Community development expertise • Cultural knowledge, bilingual skills • International development skills • Asset mapping, etc.
International = Outcomes + Impacts • Major business w/10 Latino employees expects 100 by June 2003 • Albrecht can demonstrate the value of his international experience
Internationalizing Extension Has International Found a Partner in Multicultural?